Case Law[2022] ZASCA 100South Africa
Cochrane Steel Products v Jumalu Fencing (166/2021) [2022] ZASCA 100; 2022 BIP 483 (SCA) (22 June 2022)
Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
22 June 2022
Headnotes
Summary: Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993 – ss 34(1)(a), (c) and 34(2)(b) – trade mark infringement claims – disclaimer in relation to registered trade mark ‘CLEAR VU’ – registration of a mark shall not debar others from the bona fide descriptive use of the words ‘clear view’ – whether respondent’s use of those words in the course of trade bona fide and descriptive of its kind of goods and their characteristics – whether respondent’s conduct unlawful and amounting to passing-off.
Judgment
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## Cochrane Steel Products v Jumalu Fencing (166/2021) [2022] ZASCA 100; 2022 BIP 483 (SCA) (22 June 2022)
Cochrane Steel Products v Jumalu Fencing (166/2021) [2022] ZASCA 100; 2022 BIP 483 (SCA) (22 June 2022)
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sino date 22 June 2022
THE
SUPREME COURT OF APPEAL OF SOUTH AFRICA
JUDGMENT
Reportable
Case
no: 166/2021
In
the matter between:
COCHRANE
STEEL PRODUCTS (PTY) LTD
APPELLANT
and
JUMALU
FENCING (PTY) LTD
RESPONDENT
Neutral
citation:
Cochrane
Steel Products v Jumalu Fencing
(166/2021)
[2022] ZASCA 100
(22 June 2022)
Coram:
Maya P, Makgoka and Gorven JJA, Meyer
and Matojane AJJA
Heard:
17 May 2022
Delivered
:
22 June 2022
Summary:
Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993
–
ss
34(1)
(a)
,
(c)
and
34
(2)
(b)
–
trade
mark infringement claims – disclaimer in relation to registered
trade mark ‘CLEAR VU’ – registration
of a mark
shall not debar others from the
bona
fide
descriptive use of the words
‘clear view’ – whether respondent’s use of
those words in the course of trade
bona
fide
and descriptive of its kind of
goods and their characteristics – whether respondent’s
conduct unlawful and amounting
to passing-off.
ORDER
On
appeal from:
Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg
(Lombard AJ, sitting as court of first instance):
The
appeal is dismissed with costs.
JUDGMENT
Meyer
AJA (Maya P, Makgoka and Gorven JJA, and Matojane AJA concurring)
[1]
This is an appeal against an order of the Gauteng Division of the
High Court, Johannesburg
(Lombard AJ), dismissing with costs the
appellant’s application in terms of ss 34(1)
(a)
and
(c)
and 34(2)
(b)
of the Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993 (the Act), as
also, for interdictory relief based on passing-off. The appellant,
Cochrane Steel
Products (Pty) Ltd (Cochrane), sought an order
interdicting and restraining the respondent, Jumalu Fencing (Pty) Ltd
(Jumalu),
from infringing its ‘CLEAR VU’ registered trade
mark in two categories, one in Class 6 (in respect of non-electrical
cables and wires of common metal; metal fences; metal mesh; pipes and
tubes of metal) and the other in Class 37 (in relation to
building,
construction, repair and installation) of the International
Classification of Goods and Services.
[2]
Cochrane and Jumalu are direct competitors in manufacturing and
installing physical
perimeter security barriers. The basis of
Jumalu’s opposition to the relief claimed by Cochrane is that
the words ‘clear
view’ are disclaimed elements of
Cochrane’s registered trade marks. In addition its use of those
words on its advertising
billboards and website is
bona fide
and descriptive in relation to its fencing products and their
characteristics. Other competitors within the security barrier
industry
also use the words ‘clear view’ to describe
their fencing products.
[3]
Cochrane manufactures a variety of security fences that are marketed
under the ‘CLEARVU’
or ‘CLEAR VU’ brand, such
as:
INVISIBLE
WALL, described as an architecturally inspired see-through fence;
CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, a category V type fence with an anti-ram barrier,
anti-cut, anti-reciprocating saw, and other high security
properties;
RE-ENFORCED,
a combination of high-density mesh and a category IV security fence;
SHUTTER
MESH, a high security category IV type perimeter fence that includes
solid shutters;
ANTI-STAMPEDE
CLEAR VU, a collapsible fencing system designed to provide pitch
demarcation and the like;
BALLUSTRATE,
an architecturally designed transparent baluster topped with a
pressed integrated hand rail;
ROCKET
BARRIER, designed to prevent rocket attacks against key installations
such as fuel refineries and depots; and a POOL FENCE.
Below is a
photographic depiction provided by Cochrane
inter
alia,
of
the fencing alongside its mark.
[1]
(Refer
to PDF)
[4]
Jumalu’s actual use of the mark ‘clear view’
depicted on its advertising
billboards is the following:
(Refer
to PDF)
[5]
On its website, Jumalu uses the words ‘Jumalu’,
‘Clamberprufe’
and ‘clear view’ as follows:
Clamberprufe – safeguarding people, property and assets. In
addition, under the
heading of ‘who we are’, the
following is captured:
‘
Jumalu
Fencing is a South African private company supplying specialist
Clamberprufe turnkey mesh panel security fencing solutions
known for
its clear view aesthetic. Jumalu offers an extensive range of
innovative, aesthetically pleasing, high quality clear
view fencing
products to secure people, property, premises and assets.’
Furthermore,
in relation to the product quality, it is stated that-
‘
Jumalu
fencing offers an extensive range of innovative, aesthetically
pleasing, high quality Clamberprufe clear view fencing products
that
are manufactured locally’.
Also,
under the heading titled ‘SOME COOL FACTS ABOUT JUMALU’,
it is stated that the total metres of clear view fencing
installed so
far is 28709. Moreover, under the heading for services offered, it is
stated that the company-
‘
supplies
Clamberprufe security fencing solutions known for its clear view
aesthetic’.
Alongside
this, Clamberprufe clear view fences series has been engineered to
provide customers with the best qualities of mesh panel
fencing with
high security, anti-climb, anti-cut properties due to fence apertures
and clear view aesthetics. In the remainder
of its website, Jumalu
uses the words ‘Clamberprufe clear view fencing’ or
‘clear view aesthetics’ within
the same context.
[6]
In dismissing Cochrane’s infringement claims under ss 34(1)
(a)
and
(c)
of the Act, the high court held that the words ‘clear
view’ are commonly used descriptively in relation to products
in the fencing industry, and it rejected Cochrane’s contention
that the use of those words by Jumalu was not
bona fide
descriptive use. In dismissing its common law passing-off claim, it
held that Cochrane has not established that ‘the public
identifies the clear view feature concerned as distinctive of the
source of the Applicant’s fencing’ nor did it establish
‘that the Respondent’s use of the words CLEAR VIEW, was
calculated or likely to deceive or confuse the ordinary customer,
and
thus to cause confusion and damage to the alleged goodwill of the
Applicant’s business’. It should be noted at
the outset
that no facts were set out in the founding affidavit to support the
Class 6 services trade mark infringement claim under
ss 34(1)
(a)
and
(c)
of the Act and the services passing-off claim. It
follows that those claims must fail.
The
trade mark infringement claims
[7]
Sections 9, 10(2), 15, 34(1)
(a)
and
(c)
and 2
(b)
of
the Act are pertinent. Section 9 deals with registrable trade marks
as follows:
‘
(1)
In order to be registrable, a trade mark shall be capable of
distinguishing the goods or services of a person in respect of
which
it is registered or proposed to be registered from the goods or
services of another person either generally or, where the
trade mark
is registered or proposed to be registered subject to limitations, in
relation to use within those limitations.
(2)
A mark shall be considered to be capable of distinguishing within the
meaning of subsection (1) if, at the date of application
for
registration, it is inherently capable of so distinguishing or it is
capable of distinguishing by reason of prior use thereof.’
[8]
Section 10 deals with unregistrable trade marks. Specific in this
regard is s 10(2)
which provides that:
‘
The
following marks shall not be registered as trade marks or, if
registered, shall, subject to the provisions of sections 3 and
70, be
liable to be removed from the register:
(2)
a mark which—
(a)
is not capable of distinguishing within the
meaning of section 9; or
(b)
consists exclusively of a sign or an indication
which may serve, in trade, to designate the kind, quality, quantity,
intended purpose,
value, geographical origin or other characteristics
of the goods or services, or the mode or time of production of the
goods or
of rendering of the services; or
(c)
consists exclusively of a sign or indication which
has become customary in the current language or in the
bona
fide
and established practices of the
trade.’
[9]
Section 15 provides for trade
mark registration subject to a disclaimer:
‘
If
a trade mark contains matter which is not capable of distinguishing
within the meaning of section 9, the registrar or the court,
in
deciding whether the trade mark shall be entered in or shall remain
on the register, may require, as a condition of its being
entered in
or remaining on the register—
(a)
that the proprietor shall disclaim any right to
the exclusive use of all or any portion of any such matter to the
exclusive use
of which the registrar or the court holds him not to be
entitled; or
(b)
that the proprietor shall make such other
disclaimer or memorandum as the registrar or the court may consider
necessary for the
purpose of defining his rights under the
registration:
Provided
that no disclaimer or memorandum on the register shall affect any
rights of the proprietor of a trade mark except such
as arise out of
the registration of the trade mark in respect of which the disclaimer
is made.’
[10]
Sections 34(1)
(a)
and
(c),
and (2)
(b)
read
as follows:
‘
(1)
The rights acquired by registration of a trade mark shall be
infringed by—
(a)
the unauthorized use in the course of trade in relation to goods or
services in respect of which the trade mark is registered,
of an
identical mark or of a mark so nearly resembling it as to be likely
to deceive or cause confusion;
.
. .
(c)
the unauthorized use in the course of trade in relation to any goods
or services of a mark which is identical or similar to a trade
mark
registered, if such trade mark is well known in the Republic and the
use of the said mark would be likely to take unfair advantage
of, or
be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the
registered trade mark, notwithstanding the absence of
confusion or
deception: Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not
apply to a trade mark referred to in section 70(2).
(2)
A registered trade mark is not infringed by —
.
. .
(b)
the use by any person of any
bona
fide
description or indication of the
kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin
or other characteristics
of his goods or services, or the mode or
time of production of the goods or the rendering of the services.
’
[11]
When Cochrane applied for the registration of the mark ‘CLEAR
VU’ in the two categories,
M-Systems Group (Pty) Ltd
(M-Systems) – at the time a competitor of Cochrane in producing
and installing fencing products
– objected. The basis of its
opposition was that the mark was not registerable since it consisted
exclusively of an indication
which may serve in trade to designate
the kind, quality, intended purpose or other characteristics of the
goods or services (s
10(2)
(b)
of the Act) and that it was not
capable of distinguishing the goods and services for which it is to
be used (ss 9(1) and 10(2)
(a)
of the Act).
[12]
The Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria (Basson J), ordered
the registration of the
mark subject to two disclaimers. That order
was appealed against to this Court. In
Cochrane
Steel Products (Pty) Ltd v M-Systems Group
(
Cochrane
)
,
[2]
this
Court dismissed the appeal, save for the deletion of certain words in
the second disclaimer as ordered by Basson J. In the
result,
Cochrane’s ‘CLEAR VU’ goods and services trade
marks were registered subject to the following identical
disclaimers:
‘
The
Registration of this mark shall give no right to the exclusive use of
the words “clear” and “view” separately
and
apart from the mark. The registration of this mark shall not debar
others from the bona fide descriptive use in the course
of trade of
the words “clear view” and view.’
I
refer to the second part of this entry as the ‘second
disclaimer’.
[13]
It is to be noted that the formulation of the second disclaimer is
similar to the provisions
of section 34(2)
(b)
of
the Act. But, as was said by Harms JA in
Cadbury
(Pty) Ltd v Beacon Sweets & Chocolates (Pty) Ltd and Another
,
[3]
‘
.
. . a disclaimer is, theoretically, never necessary since
registration of a trade mark cannot give rise to any rights except
those arising from the mark as a whole. It nonetheless has a
function. Primarily, it is to prevent the registration of a composite
mark from operating so as to inhibit the use of the disclaimed
element by others.’
It
prevents traders from being-
‘
.
. . put through the trouble and expense of first manufacturing and
selling and then be subjected to the risk of infringement litigation
where the Legislature has given a simple remedy akin to a declaration
of rights to obtain certainty’.
[4]
[14]
In dismissing the appeal in
Cochrane
,
[5]
Navsa
ADP relied on a number of well-known trade mark law judgments and
re-affirmed the principles therein enunciated. The trade
mark law
principles to be distilled from
Cochrane
and
from the trade mark jurisprudence relied upon in that case, can
briefly be summarised as follows: Trade mark law is concerned
with
the provision of information regarding trade origin. Its object, as
reflected in s 34(1)
(a)
and
(b),
is
to prevent commercial dissemination that is misleading. Trade mark
registration gives a perpetual monopoly. However, the registration
of
trade marks is capable of creating perpetual unjustified monopolies
in areas it should not. Therefore, the rights of other traders
should
not be constrained beyond that which is necessary for the protection
of the trade mark proprietor. Trade mark law principles
are not aimed
at preventing or inhibiting competition. Traders should not be
permitted to ‘enclose part of the great common
of the English
language and to exclude the general public of the present day and of
the future from access to the enclosure’.
[6]
Trade
mark use that is not misleading or deceiving as to origin is
protected, constitutionally and in terms of ordinary trade mark
principles. A trade mark proprietor cannot bring an action for
infringement in respect of the use of a disclaimed feature. The
deliberate misspelling of ordinary descriptive words which other
traders may wish to use in relation to particular goods or services
ought also to be disclaimed since the phonetic equivalent of a
non-distinctive word is itself non-distinctive.
[15]
In
Cochrane
, Navsa ADP concluded thus:
‘
[21]
Returning to the facts of the present case, the “VU” in
the composite mark “CLEARVU”, is a deliberate
misspelling
of the ordinary word “view” and is understandable in
light of the nature of the product and what it intends
to convey. To
state, as Cochrane does, that it does not embody a misspelling of the
ordinary English word “view”, but
that it is a coined
word which just happens to be the phonetic equivalent of the ordinary
English word “view” is to
strain to avoid the implication
that commonly, admissions are entered when there is a misspelling of
a word and to seek a monopoly
that extends beyond that which is
acceptable. Moreover, as pointed out above in para 14, with reference
to Webster and Page, the
phonetic equivalent of a non-distinctive
word is itself non-distinctive and it would seem to follow that if
the word itself is
one that ought to be disclaimed then its phonetic
equivalent should also be disclaimed.
[22]
In my view, neither Cochrane, nor any other trader, is entitled to
appropriate exclusively the ordinary English words “clear”
and “view”, which, in effect, constitute the composite
mark. Furthermore, those words are commonly used descriptively
in
relation to fencing products. The registration of the mark should not
operate to inhibit the use by others of the disclaimed
elements.’
[16]
The words ‘clear’ and ‘view’ are ordinary and
well-known words to be
found in any dictionary, and so is the phrase
‘clear view’. As a noun, the word ‘view’
ordinarily connotes
‘the ability to see something . . . from a
particular place’ and as a verb ‘look at or inspect’.
As an
adjective the word ‘view’ ordinarily connotes
‘transparent’, ‘having good visibility’ and
‘free
of any obstruction’.
[7]
Therefore,
when the word ‘clear’ is adjectively used with the noun
‘view’ in a mark in relation to goods,
they normally laud
a characteristic of those goods. They are non-distinctive words and,
also on the evidence before us, commonly
used descriptively in
relation to fencing products.
[17]
Jumalu’s billboard depiction reveals that ‘ClamberPrufe’
is the dominant mark
used in the sense of ‘any sign capable of
being represented graphically, including a device, name, signature,
word, letter,
numeral, shape, configuration, pattern, ornamentation,
colour or container for goods or any combination of the
aforementioned’
as defined in s 1 of the Act. The words ‘CLEAR
VIEW FENCING’ below the mark ‘ClamberPrufe’ in a
much smaller
font is clearly used in a descriptive sense; a key
characteristic of the fence is that whilst it serves as a barrier, it
does not
obstruct sight. ‘JUMALU’ is the company that
manufactures and installs the ‘ClamberPrufe’ fencing, and
its telephone number and e-mail address are provided at the bottom of
the billboard.
[18]
On its website, Jumalu uses the words ‘Jumalu’,
‘Clamberprufe’ and ‘clear
view’ in proper
context. The words ‘clear view’ are used exclusively
together with the words ‘Clamberprufe’
or as ‘clear
view aesthetics’. Both are descriptive use. In conjunction with
the word ‘Clamberprufe’, it
describes what type of fence
‘Clamberprufe’ is - a clear view fence – or it
describes the aesthetics of the fence
– it has a clear view
aesthetic. The use of the words ‘clear view’ by Jumalu on
its billboards and website is
therefore undoubtedly descriptive use
when considered in the proper context of the billboard or the
website.
[19]
Cochrane’s last arrow in its bow in its attempt at obtaining
infringement relief under
ss 34(1)
(a)
and
(c)
of the
Act, was its contention that Jumalu’s use of the words ‘clear
view’, even if descriptive, is not
bona fide
as
contemplated in the second endorsement. I do not propose to attempt a
comprehensive definition of what the expression ‘bona
fide
description’ of goods or services in s 34(2)
(b)
or ‘bona
fide descriptive’ use in the second disclaimer means. It seems
to me that some assistance may be derived, by
analogy, from the
meaning our courts have attributed to the concept of
bona fide
use
in the context of the statutory defences to trade mark infringement.
For example, it has been held that-
‘
user
for an ulterior purpose, unassociated with a genuine intention of
pursuing the object for which the Act allows the registration
of a
trade mark and protects its use, cannot pass as a bona fide user.’
[8]
In
this regard,
what the Legislature intended to
safeguard was-
‘
the
use by a trader, in relation to his goods, of words, which are fairly
descriptive of his goods, genuinely for the purpose of
describing the
character or quality of the goods: the use of the words must not be a
mere device to secure some ulterior object,
as for example where the
words are used in order to take advantage of the goodwill attaching
to the registered trade mark of another’.
[9]
[20]
In essence, what Cochrane contends is that Jumalu is not using the
words ‘clear view’
to describe its ClamberPrufe fence and
its unobstructed view characteristic but rather to capitalise on the
reputation of the Cochrane’s
‘CLEAR VU’ mark. The
only factual basis upon which it seeks such an inference to be drawn
is that in 2015 Jumalu had
on its website used Cochrane’s mark
by using the words ‘CLEARVU’ and ‘INVISIBLE WALL’
(which were
at that stage not registered trade marks) to describe its
fencing products. As a result, Cochrane had to address a cease and
desist
demand to Jumalu. However, Jumalu complied with Cochrane’s
demand, altered its website and never used the marks ‘CLEARVU’
and ‘INVISIBLE WALL’ again. An inference that Jumalu’s
use of the words ‘clear view’, even if descriptive,
is
not
bona fide
as contemplated in the second endorsement and in
s 34(2)
(b)
of the Act, can therefore not reasonably be drawn.
The words ‘clear view’ were disclaimed when Cochrane’s
trade
marks under consideration were registered. By not disbarring
others from using those words, the entry in effect disclaims
Cochrane’s
right to the exclusive use thereof.
[21]
I conclude, therefore, that Jumalu’s use of the words ‘clear
view’ to describe
the kind of its security steel fencing and
its characteristic of having a clear view aesthetic does not infringe
Cochrane’s
registered trade mark ‘CLEAR VU’.
Jumalu’s use is not likely to mislead or deceive as to the
origin and is thus
protected. It follows that the high court
correctly dismissed Cochrane’s infringement claims under ss
34(1)
(a)
and
(c)
of the Act.
The
passing-off claim
[22]
This leaves the passing off-claim, a reputational cause of action
under the common law. A disclaimer,
however, does not affect a trade
mark proprietor’s right at common law if it establishes that
the use by the defendant of
the disclaimed feature is likely to
result in the defendant’s goods or services being passed off as
its goods or services.
[10]
The
law of passing-off is well established as a species of unlawful
competition. There are various ways in which a trader can pass
off
the goods of a rival trader. But in essence, passing-off concerns a
misrepresentation. There is no closed list as to how the
misrepresentation can be effected.
[23]
In
Policansky
Bros. Ltd v L&H Policansky
,
[11]
Wessels
CJ said this:
‘
In
most of the cases which occur it is the get-up of a manufacturer’s
goods by a rival which gives rise to passing-off actions.
Here as a
rule the element of
dolus
prevails,
for the get-up is seldom, if ever, accidental: it is generally the
result of calculated imitation. In order, however,
to judge whether
there has or has not been a passing-off, the get-up of the goods,
even if there has not been dishonest imitation,
is often an element
in determining whether the defendant’s acts are or are not
calculated to deceive the ordinary reasonable
man to believe that
when buying the goods of A he is buying those of B. There are various
ways in which the defendant can pass
off the goods of the plaintiff.
The mass of reported cases show how numerous the devices are by which
a manufacturer can attempt
to identify his goods and therefore how
varied the circumstances are in passing-off cases. Each case must
necessarily depend on
its own circumstances but if we examine the
decided cases we find that many of them fall into definite classes
which have common
features.’
[24]
In
Williams
t/a Jenifer Williams & Associates and Another v Life Line
Southern Transvaal
,
[12]
Corbett
CJ said the following:
‘
Passing-off
is a species of wrongful competition in trade or business. In its
classic form it usually consists in A representing,
either expressly
or impliedly (but almost invariably by the latter means), that the
goods or services marketed by him emanate in
the course of business
from B or that there is an association between such goods or services
and the business conducted by B. Such
conduct is treated by the law
as being wrongful because
it
results, or is calculated to result, in the improper filching of
another’s trade and/or in an improper infringement of
his
goodwill and/or in causing injury to that other’s trade
reputation. Such a representation may be made impliedly by A
adopting
a trade name or a get-up or mark for his goods which so resembles B’s
name or get-up or mark as to lead the public
to be confused or to be
deceived into thinking that A’s goods or services emanate from
B or that there is the association
between them referred to above.
Thus, in order to succeed in a passing-off action based upon an
implied representation it
is generally incumbent upon the plaintiff
to establish,
inter
alia
:
firstly, that the name, get-up or mark used by him has become
distinctive of his goods or services, in the sense that the public
associate the name, get-up or mark with the goods or services
marketed by him (this is often referred to as the acquisition
of reputation);
and, secondly, that the name, get-up or mark
used by the defendant is such or is so used as to cause the public to
be confused
or deceived in the manner described above. These
principles are trite and require no citation of authority.’
[25]
Cochrane has failed to establish any conduct by Jumalu which is
treated by our law as wrongful.
It failed to establish the
acquisition of reputation element and the misrepresentation element
of its passing-off claim. As I have
demonstrated, Jumalu’s
trade mark for its goods and its get-up do not resemble Cochrane’s.
It uses the words ‘clear
view’ exclusively together with
the words ‘Clamberprufe’ or ‘clear view aesthetics’
to describe the
kind of its security steel fencing and its
characteristic of having a clear view aesthetic. A representation
that the security
steel fencing marketed by Jumalu emanates in the
course of business from Cochrane or that there is an association
between such
goods and the business conducted by Cochrane has not
been established. The name, get-up or mark used by Jumalu is not such
or is
not used to likely cause the public to be confused or deceived
as to origin or association.
[26]
Equally apposite to Cochrane’s alternative passing-off claim is
the caution re-affirmed
in this Court recently in the case of
Open
Horizon Ltd v Carnilinx (Pty) Ltd
,
[13]
where
Ponnan JA held that:
‘
[25]
In any event, the appellant relies for its unlawful competition claim
on the identical trade marks relied on for its trade
mark
infringement relief. The unlawful competition relief that the
appellant seeks is premised on the factual assertion that the
respondent is using ‘confusingly similar infringing marks’,
thereby imitating the appellant’s PACIFIC range of
products.
Having determined that the marks are not confusingly similar for the
purposes of trade mark infringement, how, it must
be asked, can they
be confusingly similar for the purposes of the alternative claim
based on unlawful competition.
[26]
In
Blue Lion
Schutz JA had occasion to repeat the caution
sounded by him some 16-years earlier in
Payen Components
. He
did so in these terms.
“
.
. . concerning the illegitimacy of using some general notion of
unlawful competition to create an ersatz passing off with
requirements
(in the alternative) less exacting than those required
by the common law. . . .”
He
added;
“
.
. . Some of the restraints that the common law places on the passing
off action (the one relevant to this case is the need to
prove the
likelihood of deception and confusion) are important in preventing
the creation of impermissible monopolies. . . .”
I
daresay, this is precisely the kind of matter that Schutz JA
cautioned against.’
[27]
It follows that, like the trade mark infringement claims under
subsections 34(1)
(a)
and
(c)
of the Act, the
passing-off claim must also fail.
[28]
As a result, the appeal is dismissed with costs.
P
A MEYER
ACTING
JUDGE OF APPEAL
Appearances
For
appellant:
O Salmon SC
Instructed
by:
Rademeyer Attorneys, Randburg, Johannesburg
C/o Honey Attorneys,
Bloemfontein
For
respondent:
G Kairinos SC
Instructed
by:
Jurgens Bekker Attorneys, Alberton,
Johannesburg
C/o Rossouws Attorneys,
Bloemfontein
[1]
For more pictorial
depictions of some other of the steel fencing products manufactured
by Cochrane, together with descriptions
employed by it in relation
thereto, see
Cochrane
Steel Products (Pty) Ltd v M-Systems Group
[2017]
ZASCA 189
para
7.
[2]
Cochrane
Steel Products (Pty) Ltd v M-Systems Group
[2017]
ZASCA 189.
[3]
Cadbury
(Pty)
Ltd v Beacon Sweets & Chocolates (Pty) Ltd and Another
[2000]
ZASCA 2
;
2000 (2) SA 771
(SCA);
[2000] 2 All SA 1
(A) para 13
relying on
Philip
Morris Inc's Trade Mark Application
[1980]
RPC 527
at 532-533.
[4]
Cadbury
para
14.
[5]
Cochrane
paras
9-20.
[6]
In
Re:
Joseph Crossfield & Sons, Limited
[1910]
1 Ch 13 (CA).
[7]
Concise
Oxford English Dictionary
12
ed (Oxford University Press) at 1621 and 266.
[8]
Rembrandt Fabrikante
en Handelaars (Edms) Bpk v Gulf Oil Corporation
1963
(3) SA 341
(A) at 351E-F.
[9]
Plascon-Evans Paints
Ltd v Van Riebeeck Paints (Pty) Ltd
[1984] ZASCA 51
;
1984
(3) SA 623
(A) at 645F-G.
[10]
Webster and Page
South
African Law of Trade Marks
:
Service Issue 19 (2015), para 9.19 at 9-16.
[11]
Policansky
Bros Ltd v L & H Policansky
1935
AD 89
at 98.
[12]
Williams
t/a Jenifer Williams & Associates and Another v Life Line
Southern Transvaal
[1996] ZASCA 46
;
1996
(3) SA 408
(SCA) paras 22-24.
[13]
Open
Horizon Ltd v Carnilinx (Pty) Ltd
[2022]
ZASCA 75.
(References omitted.)
sino noindex
make_database footer start
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